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Over two dozen Olympic medal winners, mentors and other global sports figures have signed a appeal calling for a halt to the capital punishment of a champion boxer and trainer, who is sentenced to die in the country.

Increasing International Outrage

Amidst growing worldwide anger over Iran’s expanding employment of the death penalty as a tool of oppression, the forcefully phrased statement censures the Iranian regime's verdict to uphold the death sentence of the boxing champion.

The boxer, three decades old, from the city in north-east Iran, was arrested for taking part in national uprisings in two thousand nineteen and indicted of backing an dissident organization. He has spent half a decade in prison, where he has been abused and held in seclusion.

“Competition is intended to promote optimism, solidarity, and fortitude,” the supporters wrote. “The death penalty of a titleholder for his opinions is a blatant attack on these ideals and a admonition to any competitor who attempts to voice opinions.

History of Killing Athletes

The appeal pointed out that Vafaei Sani’s case was not an isolated one and underscored the country's history of sentencing to death sports champions for their beliefs, for example a national team leader, leader of the soccer squad, and a women's sports leader, captain of the women's volleyball squad. In two thousand twenty, Navid Afkari, a young Iranian sports titleholder, was also executed.

Further supporters to the statement include a yachting pioneer, who captained the first female-only team in a international sailing event and was the pioneering lady to be awarded a renowned yachting trophy; the former captain of the soccer side a sports advocate; and Bahram Mavaddat, who was in the Iranian squad for the international competition.

Apprehension and Flawed Legal Process

The boxer was taken into custody in March 2020. The charges against him entailed “promoting decay on Earth through incendiarism and damage of public property”. His sentence has been overturned multiple times but on 4 October it was maintained on the third attempt. His trial was criticized as “highly unjust” by advocates and organizations.

Urging to UN

The appeal to halt the athlete's death sentence follows a 2023 appeal to the United Nations official for human rights, signed by in excess of a hundred advocates and organizations, urging intervention to avert the competitor's capital punishment.

Capital Punishment Escalation

As per reports, there is an “death penalty surge in the country, which has attained alarming levels”. In two thousand twenty-three, authorities put to death at least 853 people – a forty-eight percent surge on 2022. Last year, statistics showed nine hundred seventy-two capital punishments, marking the highest number since two thousand fifteen. More than 800 people have been executed so far in 2025.

Political prisoners and protesters are focus, notably in the wake of the the year 2022 protests. Analysts say the regime have employed the death penalty to quell opposition, generate anxiety among the public and reinforce their grip on authority.